Chip and Joanna Gaines Helped This Couple Adopt a Child With Down Syndrome

With the help of Chip and Joanna Gaines, one Missouri couple is able to adopt the missing piece of their family: A 2-year-old boy from China who has Down syndrome. Jason and Melinda Simmons were just two of a handful of recipients of Chip’s annual Chipstarter fundraiser.

With the donation of $16,203, the parents are able to complete their adoption and finally welcome their son, Ezra James, into their lives.

“Well, friends, we’ve been sitting on a pretty big secret for a while,” Melinda reveals. “We are humbled and still in shock by the events of this past weekend! With this donation, our adoption is fully funded!”

An ecstatic Jason took to his Instagram to recount the exciting news.

“We submitted a two-minute long video—along with 3,500 other people—describing our ‘big dream,’ the dream to bring our boy home from China. A few weeks later, Melinda got a phone call from Chip…and he let her know that we were finalists,” the dad explains. “Chip flew Melinda and I to Waco this weekend for Silobration, and Friday night he funded our dream, along with five other dreamers and six more dreamers on Saturday night! We are still in shock!”

“We started the adoption process in March with nothing, and now seven months later, God has provided $36,000 to bring our boy home,” the overjoyed father shares.

“This adoption journey has been one crazy roller coaster ride, that’s for sure! We can’t wait to get our hands on our boy,” Melinda exclaims.

The couple first shared news of their plan to adopt back in March.

Adopting a child is immensely rewarding. If you and your partner want to add a kid to your clan, here’s everything you need to know about the adoption process.